Shelley Bezanson accused of strangling her dog to death

Venice, FL - The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested a 28-year-old woman for killing her dog in a cruel and painful manner because she didn't want anyone else to have it.

Animal Services was contacted by the Venice Police Department in November after receiving a report that Shelley Bezanson had killed her seven-year-old dog, Diamond, and planned to bury it at a home on Base Avenue.

According to deputies, the investigation revealed that Bezanson had tried to convince her veterinarian to euthanize Diamond but they refused because the animal was not sick and there was no ethical or justifiable reason to do so. The vet's staff had encouraged Bezanson to return Diamond to the Sarasota Humane Society, but she refused and chose to kill the dog herself.

A necropsy confirmed Diamond was strangled and suffered a prolonged, painful and cruel death.

Bezanson was taken into custody Friday and charged with Cruelty to Animals: Resulting in Cruel Death. She is being held on $25,000 bond.